Ore-concentrating apparatus.



No. 668,852. Patented Feb. 26, l90l.

A. A. FRANCIS.

O BE CONGENTRATING APPARATUS. (Application filed Sept. 14; 1900. (No Model.) 2 Shaets -Sheat I.

&

in: mm mm co. mom-um. wnmlm'ma. 1c.

Patented Feb. 26, I901.

A. A. FRANCIS.

ORE CUNCENTRATING APPARATUS.

(Applica1:ion filed Sept 14, 1900.

2 Shaeis 8hoei 2.

(No Nodal.)

lfiven r.

WiZw-sses we Norms Inglis co. murym wmgmuron, o c.

times STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR AUBREY FRANCIS, OF BERGAMO, ITALY.

ORE-CONCENTRATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 668,852, dated February 26, 1901. Application filed September 14, 1900. Serial No. 29.984. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR AUBREY FRAN- 018, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Ponte di Nossa, Bergamo, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Concentrating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ore-concentrating apparatus of the kind in which a transversely-inclined table having a longitudinallygrooved, ribbed, or ri'ffled surface has imparted to it a longitudinally reciprocating or shaking movement, the crushed ore being fed onto the table at its upper edge, and a constant stream of water being caused to flow across the table so as to wash the fine less valuable particles of the ore or gangue away over the lower edge of the table, while the heavier and more valuable particles of the ore or concentrates are shaken to the end of the table and discharged into suitable receptacles. According to my invention I provide this table with means whereby it is caused when at work to rock or move angularly about a longitudinal axis in addition to the aforesaid longitudinal reciprocatory move ment, so that the said table moves with a compound or longitudinally-reciprocating and transversely-rocking movement.

The tables may be arranged either singly or in pairs. lVhen in pairs, the tables may be arranged so that either their lower edges or their upper edges are adjacent and may rock about a common longitudinal axis.

. I preferably construct the riflies or ribs on the surface of the table so that they taper longitudinally or gradually decrease in height from the head end toward the discharge end of the table. I also so arrange the riffles that each succeeding riffle toward one side of the table is of greater height that the immediately preceding riftle.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practical effect, I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is an end elevation, of the ore-concentrating apparatus, showing a pair of inclined tables having their upper edges adjacent to one another. Fig- 2 is a central vertical longitudinal partsectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the ap- ,paratus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the table being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the tapered ribs or riiiles. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a cross-section of the inclined tables in which the lower edges of the tables are adjacent.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a is the framework of the apparatus. b is a longitudinal reciprocating or shaking frame which carries the inclined tables 0 and d and is supported upon rollers e e,carried by a rocking framef. g g are the feed-hoppers for the crushed ore and are carried either by the tables or by the frame 1). h h are perforated pipes for discharging water onto the tables 0 and d at their highest point. These pipes hare carried by the frame f and connected to the water-main by suitable flexible piping. ee'are the longitudinal riftles or ribs carried by the tables 0 and d. The size of these riflies in proportion to the table is exaggerated for the purpose of clearly illustrating them. Each of these riflies i tapers or is gradually reduced in height from the head or that end of the table at which the hopper-g is situated toward the discharge or opposite end of the table, as clearly shown in Fig. The riflles also gradually iucreasein height toward the lower edges of the tables that is to say, that the rilile of least height is situated on or near the top or highest point of the table, and each succeeding rii'iie is higher than the rifiie immediately preceding it until the lower edge of the table is reached, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 4; or it is obvious that the riffles might increase in height from the lowest edge toward the highest edge of the table. The frame bis caused to shake or reciprocate longitudinally on the rollers c e by means of suitable mechanism, such as a crank j, through the intervention of rods 1c and Z. The frame fis pivoted at one end upon the rod land at the opposite end upon a rod m, carried by the framing of the apparatus. This frame f, together with the frame I) and the tables 0 and d, which it carries, is caused to rock upon the rods land m by means of a rotary disk 92, which is connected to one side of the framef by means of a connecting-rod o, a counterpoisespring connecting the framef to the framecton the opposite side of the apparatus.

The rod 0 is connected to a slot 19 in the diskn, and the extent of the rocking movement of the frame f may be adjusted as required by varying the position of the end of the rod 0 in the slot ya, so as to vary the throw of the said rod. It is convenient to gear the shaft of the disk n and the crank-shaft together by band-andpulley gearing, as shown in the drawings. Other suitable means for gearing these shafts together may, however, be employed. It will thus be seen that while the table I), with the tables 0 and d, is reciprocating longitudinally it is also rocked transversely, so that the tables receive a compound or transversely rocking and longitudinally reciprocating movement. The tables are provided with suitable channels at their sides and discharge ends for conveying away gangue and the concentrates, as is well understood.

Fig. 4 shows a modification in which a pair of transversely-inclined tables q and i", having their loweredges adjacent, are carried by a frame 8, arranged to reciprocate on rollers t t, carried by a frame u, adapted to rock about a longitudinal axis, as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The riffles and the ore and water feed are arranged in the same manner as in Figs. 1 and 2that is to say, at the highest point of the table.

It is obvious that instead of being arranged in pairs the transversely-inclined reciprocating tables might be arranged singly and adapted to rock about a longitudinal axis situated at one edge of the table or at an intermediate point between the two edges of the table.

The ore is fed onto the head ends of the tables at their highest points through the feedhoppers g g, while a stream of wash-water.

flows from the pipes h h transversely across the tables.

ore between the riffles to become Stratified or sorted according to specific gravity,the lighter particles coming to the surface of the ore between the riffies. As the reciprocating table rocks its transverse inclination varies, so that the flow of the wash-water is more rapid at some times than at others. When the table is least inclined and the transverse flow of the wash-water is consequently least rapid, the particles of ore settle into the grooves between the rifiles according to the specific gravity of said particles. When the table is most inclined and the transverse flow of wash-wateris consequently most rapid, the gangue or lighter portions of the ore are separated from the ore and washed over the riffies and finally discharged over the lower edge of the table. The heavier particles of ore or concentrates settle according to specific gravity between the riffles and are shaken along the table by the longitudinal reciprocating movement and are finally discharged at the end of the table into suitable receptacles. The aforesaid transverse rocking movement of the inclined tables facilitates and accelerates the separation and washing away of The longitudinallyreciprocating or shaking movement of the table causes the the gangue or lighter particles of the ore, and consequently increases the cfficiency and capacity of the apparatus. As the ore travels along the table in the grooves between the rifl'les it becomes gradually less in quantity toward the discharge end of the table, owing to the washing away of the gangue. It is therefore of advantage to longitudinally taper or decrease the riffies in height as the quantity of ore to be dealt with decreases, and thus permit the concentration of the ore to be continued throughout the whole length of the table.

The object of increasing the height of each succeeding riffie from one side toward the other side of the table is to prevent or diminish the waste or washing away of some of the smaller particles of the mineral by the water flowing across the table.

v What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In ore-concentrating apparatus the combination of a flat transversely-inclined table, means for feeding ore to the highest point at one end of the table, means for constantly delivering water along the highest edge of the table, means for imparting a longitudinally reciprocating movement to said table so as to stratify the concentrates and shake them over the end of the table opposite to the feed, longitudinalriffles forming grooves on the surface of the table, and means for imparting a transversely-rocking movement about its longitudinal axis to said table whereby the rapidity of the flow of water transversely across the surface of the table is intermittently varied so that when the said flow of water is least rapid the concentrates are permitted to settle between the riflles and when the said flow of water is most rapid the gangue is readily washed away over the lower edge of the table, substantially as described.

2. In ore-concentrating apparatus the combin ation of a fiat transversely-inchned table, means for feeding ore to the highest point at one end of the table, means for constantly delivering water along the highest edge of the table, means for imparting a longitudinally-reciprocating movement to said table so as to stratify the concentrates and shake them over the end of the table opposite to the feed, longitudinal riffles forming grooves on the surface of the table which riffles gradually decrease in height toward the discharge end of the table and each successive riffle of which gradually increases in depth toward one side of the table, and means for imparting a transversely-rocking movement about its longitudinal axis to said table whereby the rapidity of the flow of Water transversely across the surface of the table is intermittently varied so that when the said flow of water is least rapid the concentrates are permitted to settle between the riffies and when the said flow of water is most rapid the gangue is readily washed away over the lower edge of the table, substantially as described.

3. In ore-concentrating apparatus the combination of a fiat transversely-inclined table, means for feeding ore to the highest point at one end of the table, means for constantly delivering water along the highest edge of the table, a pivoted frame carrying rollers upon which said table rests, means for causing said table to reciprocate longitudinally upon said rollers so as to stratify the concentrates on the surface of the table and shake them over the end of the table opposite to the feed, longitudinal riffles forming grooves on the surface of the table, means for rocking the said frame transversely upon its pivots so as to intermittently Vary the rapidity of the flow ARTHUR AUBREY FRAN OIS.

Witnesses:

W. R. TUTTLE, MICHELE DE DRAZE. 

